A friend sent me a video clip that showed someone taking apart a 6v lantern battery, and showing how the insides were packed with AA batteries. The video pointed out that the 6v batteries were a great (cheaper) source for AA batteries - does anyone know if it's true?

They are packed with smaller batteries but the type used can vary. I've seen C and AA types used. There also connected by straps that have been spot welded.

An even cheaper source of AA batteries would be working at (or knowing someone who works at) a photo developing place.

All of those disposable cameras use regular batteries, and many of them are AAs. They sit on the shelf just like any other battery, get used with minimal current draw (if the flash isn't used, the battery might not actually be used at all), and can't be sold as "new" batteries -- because, really, they aren't.

So, they break open the camera, develop the film, and the batteries are left to either throw away or to power somebody's Wii remote, travel alarm clock, or bike light.

take look at a lot of battery packs, all some of them are is aa's, take a look at you house phone,, probally 2 aaa batteries with shrink wrap. i was looking at buying a small 12v 2.0ah battery for my headlight, but then i found a 10aa battery holder for $2, i already have a ton of aa rechargables. pretty cool stuff

also 6v= 5 1.2v rechargables

It's not true. a lie, an urban legend. And doesn't even make sense.

And the word "gullible" isn't even in the dictionary.

AA batteries could never give you the run time with a 6V bulb that a lantern battery will give. The cost of filling that lantern batt confuguration with AAs would be quite expensive.

https://www.snopes.com/photos/humor/batteryhack.asp

Yep, that's exactly the clip I saw. I knew it had to be too good to be true.